HARDEN
Reduce verified security exposure in a vulnerable or misconfigured environment while keeping required services operational.
Explore Harden ↗
Back to the 2026 archive
COMPETITION.
The 2026 format paired four-person teams with three tracks: Harden, Hack, and Hunt. This archive preserves the scoring method and published prize plan.
01 / THE JOURNEYDEFEND.
THREE DIFFERENT SECURITY PERSPECTIVES
DEFEND.
ATTACK.
INVESTIGATE.
CyberShield is one connected team competition made up of three distinct environments. Teams harden a defensive environment, attack a target network, and investigate evidence from a simulated incident.
The environments are designed around related professional skills.
Archived programEVERY TRACK
COUNTS.
HACK
Discover attack paths, exploit weaknesses, pivot through a target environment, and capture validated objectives.
Explore Hack ↗HUNT
Analyze evidence, reconstruct activity, identify indicators, and determine what happened during a simulated incident.
Explore Hunt ↗03 / WEIGHTED SCORINGONE RANKING.
ONE RANKING.
THREE RESULTS.
Each track may use a different number of available points. To make the results comparable, every track score is first normalized to 100. The confirmed track weights are then applied.
Hack contributes 50% of the final score. Harden and Hunt each contribute 25%.
HARDEN
Verified improvement after the post-hardening assessment.
HACK
Validated flags and required evidence submitted through CTFd.
HUNT
Correct investigative findings submitted through CTFd.
EARN TRACK POINTS
Complete validated hardening checks, flags, and investigative objectives.
NORMALIZE TO 100
Track points earned ÷ track points available × 100.
APPLY THE WEIGHT
Multiply each normalized result by 25%, 50%, or 25%.
COMBINE RESULTS
Add the three weighted results to determine the overall ranking.
FINAL SCORE
(Harden × 0.25) + (Hack × 0.50) + (Hunt × 0.25)
WORKED EXAMPLES
HOW THREE DIFFERENT RESULTS BECOME ONE SCORE
Illustrative examples from the published scoring guidance, not actual team results.
80.0 FINAL SCORE
- Harden: 80 × 25% = 20
- Hack: 80 × 50% = 40
- Hunt: 80 × 25% = 20
20 + 40 + 20 = 80.0
80.0 FINAL SCORE
- Harden: 60 × 25% = 15
- Hack: 95 × 50% = 47.5
- Hunt: 70 × 25% = 17.5
15 + 47.5 + 17.5 = 80.0
82.5 FINAL SCORE
- Harden: 42/60 = 70 → 17.5
- Hack: 1,800/2,000 = 90 → 45
- Hunt: 72/90 = 80 → 20
17.5 + 45 + 20 = 82.5
04 / HOW POINTS ARE EARNEDMEASURE WHAT
MEASURE WHAT
THE TEAM ACHIEVES.
Measured improvement
Organizers assess the template environment before the challenge. After time expires, each team environment is scanned. Points reflect verified reduction in weighted security weaknesses while required services remain available.
Validated objectives
Teams earn points through CTFd for valid flags and required evidence obtained inside the authorized target environment. Higher-value objectives may require deeper access or several connected steps.
Evidence-based findings
Teams earn points through CTFd for correct investigative findings, validated artifacts, and accurate conclusions drawn from the provided incident evidence.
HARDEN SCORE TIMING
HARDEN: POST-CHALLENGE SCORING.
The published method used post-challenge assessment for Harden rather than a live flag-based score.
The assessment process compared each hardened environment with the baseline, checked required services, and calculated a normalized result.
- 01BASELINE
Organizers assess the template environment before the event.
- 02HARDEN
Teams make security improvements during the challenge.
- 03POST-ASSESSMENT
Organizers scan and validate each team environment after time expires.
- 0425% RESULT
The verified score is normalized to 100 and added to the final ranking.
05 / FINAL RULESCLEAR BEFORE
CLEAR BEFORE
THE CLOCK STARTS.
BEFORE COMPETITION
The published weights were 25% / 50% / 25%. The source page did not include the final service checks, penalties, score-lock process, or tie-break order.
- Only authorized environments may be tested
- Teams submit only work and evidence they obtained
- Competition and scoring infrastructure may not be attacked
- Final organizer decisions protect fairness and platform stability
06 / TEAM PRIZESPRIZES FOR THE
FOUR IDENTICAL BUNDLES · SIXTEEN ITEMS
PRIZES FOR THE
TOP FOUR TEAMS.
The published prize plan allocated one CyberShield Team Prize Bundle to each of the top four teams, with four practical technology items per bundle.
Training and certification opportunities were also listed for the top three teams. Providers and award conditions were not confirmed in the published source. This page does not confirm prize delivery.
- 01
65W GAN CHARGER
Compact USB-C charger with cable.
- 02
6-IN-1 USB-C HUB
Ethernet, HDMI, power delivery, and USB connectivity.
- 03
ADJUSTABLE LAPTOP STAND
Rotating aluminum desktop riser.
- 04
SLING BAG
Compact crossbody bag with secure storage.
1 BUNDLE PER TOP-FOUR TEAM1 charger · 1 hub · 1 stand · 1 sling bag
THE STORY CONTINUES